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According to troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol, the 2006 Peterbuilt truck, driven by Keith Mahabirsingh, 56, was heading south on Interstate 75 near mile marker 346 when the tire blew out. The truck left the road and slammed into the guardrail, causing it to overturn on the driver's side. The truck burst into flames.

Motorists stopped and busted out the windows of the truck and pulled Mahabirsingh out, troopers said.

Brian Stoothoff, assistant fire chief with Ocala Fire Rescue, said his agency got a call at 11:32 a.m. and arrived within five minutes. He said Marion County Fire Rescue crews also responded and that together they all put out the fire.

Mahabirsingh was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville with burns over 50 percent of his body, Stoothoff said. A report from FHP noted that he was in serious condition.

The truck, which was destroyed, was hauling limerock. A sign on the side of the truck had the words "Brady Construction, Inc., of Ocala."

Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com

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